Pharmacy Assistant vs. Pharmacy Technician: What’s the Difference?

Key Insights:

• Pharmacy assistants and pharmacy technicians perform different functions. Understanding the differences between these two healthcare roles can help you decide if one or the other might be a good fit for you.
• Pharmacy assistants generally perform more administrative functions (e.g., answering phones, monitoring inventory, stocking shelves), while pharmacy technicians can assist with the preparation and dispensing of prescription medications under a licensed pharmacist.
• Pharmacy assistants often learn on the job. Training and/or certification may be required to work as a pharmacy technician. If they are not a requirement, completing a pharm tech program can provide the knowledge and skills needed to perform duties typically assigned to this role.

If you’re interested in pursuing an entry-level position within a pharmacy setting, two options to consider are pharmacy assistant and pharmacy technician. Because they have some similarities, it’s easy to mix them up. However, they are different positions.

Here, we discuss the differences between pharmacy assistant vs. pharmacy technician roles. We also talk about the education and training requirements for each. Should you decide that a tech career path may be a good fit for you, a pharmacy technician training program can help you prepare. We’ll tell you more about that as well. Let’s get started.

Pharmacy Assistant vs. Pharmacy Technician Job Duties

One of the first areas of difference between these two pharmacy-based healthcare roles is the duties or functions they perform. While each is tasked with helping licensed pharmacists supply medications to patients, they do this in a different way.

What does a pharmacy assistant do?

The tasks that pharmacy assistants perform are generally more administrative in nature.¹ They may be responsible for handling phone calls and maintaining patient files, for instance. Additional pharmacy assistant duties can include operating the cash register, stocking shelves, placing supply orders, and performing other clerical functions.

Can’t pharmacy technicians perform these same tasks? They can. That’s why it’s so easy to confuse these two roles. But techs are different because they can perform a more expansive list of functions, particularly those related to the dispensing of medications.

What does a pharmacy technician do?

Pharmacy technician duties include verifying that prescriptions are correct, then preparing those medications based on the prescribed dosages and strengths under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. They may also be responsible for inventory management and insurance claim processing. If they work in a retail setting, they might have customer service responsibilities.

Some techs work in specialty pharmacies. These pharmacies provide medications for patients with complex diseases, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, which may require more specialized medicines.² Specialty pharmacy techs may be tasked with compounding or mixing these medications.

Learn more with this short video: What Is a Pharmacy Technician?

Education and Training Requirements for These Entry-Level Pharmacy Roles

Because pharmacy assistants and technicians have different job functions, they may need different types of training. It should be noted that actual training requirements can vary from one pharmacy to the next. Therefore, it’s always important to check with a prospective employer to help you understand the type of training required for the position that you want.

Pharmacy assistant requirements

There are no state or federal training requirements to perform pharmacy assistant duties. This means that you generally don’t need a diploma or degree to enter this position.

Employers do typically require applicants to have a high school diploma or GED.¹ With on-the-job training, these individuals can often learn the skills needed to perform pharmacy assistant functions.

Pharmacy technician requirements

Like with pharmacy assistants, you generally need at least a high school diploma to pursue a pharmacy technician role. This is often combined with job training within the pharmacy itself.

However, most states regulate this position in some way, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).³ So, the completion of a formal education or training program may be required.

In some cases, pharmacy technician certification might be required as well. Even if it isn’t, employers may prefer applicants who have this type of credential.

Differences in Pharmacy Assistant vs. Pharmacy Technician Pay

How much does a pharmacy assistant make? And how does that compare to a pharmacy technician’s wages?

Actual salary for each position can vary depending on a variety of factors. Among them are the professional’s level of education, experience, relevant certifications, geographical location, and workplace setting.

Indeed indicates that pay for assistants is generally lower than for pharm techs since the role is less technical and has lower training and experience requirements.¹ You can learn more about the pay for these positions by looking at job salary sites or by reviewing wage data provided by governmental sources like the BLS.

Which Career Path May Be Right for You?

Understanding the differences between pharmacy assistant vs. pharmacy technician can help you decide which one may be right for you. Now that you know more, you can make a more informed decision about your healthcare career and which direction you’d like to go in.

If you’re interested in pursuing a tech role, a pharmacy technician training program can provide the skills necessary to prepare and dispense medications, organize inventory, and effectively communicate with customers or patients.

About pharmacy technician training

Ultimate Medical Academy’s (UMA’s) Health Services – Pharmacy Technician Associate of Science / Associate of Applied Science Degree program covers important topics such as:

• Pharmacy technician fundamentals
• Pharmaceutical calculations
• Drug / dosage interaction
• Pharmacy law and ethics

You also get to choose three elective courses to expand your knowledge and skills in areas that interest you most. Do you want to learn more about healthcare computer systems, accounting for managers, working with people, or interpersonal professional communications? You can take these courses as part of UMA’s program.

Pharmacy technician certification prep

Another benefit of earning your associate degree at UMA is that this program prepares you to sit for two industry-recognized certification exams:⁴ the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination (PTCE) offered by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).⁴

Earning your certification tells prospective employers that you have the education and skills needed to perform pharmacy tech functions. Some employers may also prefer or require this credential.

How Can UMA Help You Pursue Your Healthcare Career Goals?

At UMA, we pride ourselves on our learner support — not only while you’re taking classes, but also after graduation. If you have questions about financial aid or program coursework, we can help you get the answers. If you’d like help with your job search, we can work with you to create your pharm tech resume, prepare for interviews, and more.

Contact us to learn more about this program or to get information on any of our other healthcare education options. We look forward to learning more about your career goals and will do what we can to help you achieve them.

FAQs

• What is a pharmacy assistant? A pharmacy assistant performs clerical tasks within a pharmacy setting. They may be responsible for answering calls, operating the cash register, monitoring inventory, and stocking pharmacy shelves.1 Other duties may also be assigned, depending on the employer.
• What’s the difference between a pharmacy assistant and technician? A pharmacy assistant generally performs more administrative duties, like answering phones and maintaining patient files, whereas a pharmacy technician can prepare and dispense medications under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
• How long does it take to become a pharmacy assistant? Since pharmacy assistants generally learn on the job,1 you may be able to enter this role without having to complete a formal training program. This could shorten the time it takes to become a pharmacy assistant when compared to becoming a pharmacy technician, which may require that you complete training and/or obtain your certification.